Turuturumōkai - 12 July 1868
A DigitalNZ Story by Janice
A selection of images and articles on the battle of Turuturumōkai redoubt, which marked the beginning of Tītokowaru's campaign against the confiscation of land by the British.
New Zealand Maori: Turuturumokai Fortress
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The attack on Turuturumōkai- 12 July 1868
On 12 July 1868 Tītokowaru attacked a redoubt at Turuturumōkai, 5 kilometres from the main armed constabulary redoubt at Waihī, near Hāwera. The early-morning assault lasted for two hours, with Māori unable to breach the redoubt walls.
Source: Danny Keenan, 'New Zealand wars - Tītokowaru’s war, 1868–1869', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars/page-9 (accessed 13 November 2019)
Turuturumōkai to Moturoa - Tītokowaru's war
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Turuturumokai Redoubt
Puke Ariki
WST 388
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Newspapers reports of the attack on Turuturumōkai
CONSTABLE MILMOE'S ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK. DIAGRAM OF THE TURUTURUMOKAI REDOUBT. (Taranaki Herald, 01 August 1868)
National Library of New Zealand
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK ON THE TURUTURUMOKAI REDOUST. (Colonist, 04 August 1868)
National Library of New Zealand
THE ATTACK ON THE TURUTURUMOKAI REDOUBT. (Colonist, 04 August 1868)
National Library of New Zealand
The defence and the withdrawal
Turuturumōkai was garrisoned by 22 men. By the time Major Gustavus von Tempsky arrived from Waihī with reinforcements around 7 a.m. and forced Haowhenua’s withdrawal, 10 of the defenders lay dead and six were wounded. Haowhenua lost only three men.
Source: 'Turuturumōkai to Moturoa', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/titokowarus-war/turuturumokai, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019
Photographer unknown :Portrait of Major von Tempsky
Alexander Turnbull Library
The revival of whangai hau
The attack on Turuturumōkai saw the revival of whangai hau, a ritual in which the heart of a slain enemy was offered up to Tūmatauenga, the god of war. Captain Frederick Ross, the garrison’s commander, was the unfortunate donor on this occasion.
Source: uruturumōkai to Moturoa', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/titokowarus-war/turuturumokai, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019
In memory of the battle fought at Turuturumōkai
Memorial built and unveiled 22 years later, on 11 December 1929.
Turuturumōkai NZ Wars memorial
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The Turuturumōkai redoubt and the surrounding area has since been converted in to a historic reserve.
Turuturu-Mōkai Historic Reserve
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga